Distribution of heat energy



Filed April 7. 1931 mvsmmz ATToR Y Patented Sept. 4, 1934 lit PATENT OFFICE l DISTRIBUTION or HEAT manor Ludwig Musil, Berlin,

Ruthsaccumulator Akti a corporation of Sw Application April 7 In Germa 14 Claims.

My invention relates to installations using both warm water and steam. More particularly, .my invention relates to installations or plants which are supplied with fluid heat from a distance, for

example, a building or a business establishment, such as a laundry, receiving hot fluid from a system of piping under the streets. Such systems involving piping under the streets or under the ground are known. Possibly, the most common fluid transmitted is steam. 1 However, there are advantages in transmitting hot water instead of steam on account of the smaller volume of water required to convey a given amount of heat.

The demand for energy by an installation deriving its heat from such a source is usually variable and the demand for steam may vary differently from the demand for hot water.

My invention consists in a novel arrangement for receiving hot water and dispensing heat to hot water and steam consumers while taking care of variations between the steam demand and the hot water demand and making full use of the heat in the fluid supply.

The invention will be described more fully in connection with the accompanying drawing showing two systems in accordance with the invention, which drawing is to be considered as part of this specification, and on which:

Fig. 1 shows one of the systems;. and

Fig. 2 shows the other system. 7 1

Referring to Fig. 1, reference character 10 designates a source of hot water supply which supplies hot water through conduit 11 to an accumulator 12. The source 10 may be at a distance from the accumulator 12 and the conduit 11 may be a conduit under the ground extending for some distance, as above referred to. It will be understood that the water is of an appreciably high temperature. The accumulator is a well insulated receptacle designed to withstand pressure. A conduit 13 is connected to the water space of the accumulator and conducts water to a flash chamber 14. Flash chamber 14 is alsora closed pressure receptacle. In the conduit 13 is a valve 15, which is controlled by a float 16 responsive to variations of water level in flash chamber 14. Should the water rise in flash chamber 14, the float 16 will operate the valve 15 to decrease the supply of hot water thereto. Should the level drop in flash chamber 14, the float 16 will open valve 15 and admit more water. The float 16 preferably maintains a constant water level or substantially constant water level in flash chamber 14.

' to the warm water 0 Germany, assignor to ebolag, Berlin, Germany,

eden

1931, Serial No. 528,313 ny April 12, 1930 A conduit 17 conducts hot water from flash chamber 14 to warm water consumers 18.

Reference character 19 represents a steam consumer, which may be, for example, a steam presser. A conduit 20 is connected to the upper part of flash chamber 14 and serves to conduct steam from the flash chamber 14 to steam consumer 19.

A conduit 21 is connecte or steam space of the ace the conduit 20 so that to the steam consumer 1 In conduit 20 is an trated diagrammaticall d to the upper portion umulator 12 and joins it also can supply steam overflow valve 22 illusy as a piston operated valve. This valve is controlled in response to variations of pressure in steam ahead of the same transmitted through the tube 23. On rise of pressure, valve 22 is opened more or less. 0n decrease of actuating pressure, valve 22 closes more or less. Thus, valve 22 normally operates to maintain a substantially constant pressure ahead of the same and a substantially constant pressure in flash chamber 14. Thus, since pressure and temperature are related when steam and water are in the presence of each other, valve 22 normally operates to maintain aconstant temperature of water in flash chamber 14 and therefore a constant temperature of water supplied onsumcrs 18.

A valve 24 controls flow through conduit 21. This valve is controlled by variations of pressure in steam behind the same. It is also diagrammatically shown as a piston operated valve. The actuating steam pressure is transmitted through tube 25. The steam pressure actuating valve 24 is the pressure of steam supplied to the steam consumer 19. On rise of pressure of the steam supplied to consumer 19 above a given value, valve 24 closes. Conversely, on decrease of pressure below a given value, valve 24 opens.

The steam for steam consumer 19 is normally supplied through conduit 20. Should there not be enough of this steam supplied through conduit 20 so that the pressure of steam supplied to the steam consumer 19 falls below a given value,then 10o valve 24 is opened to supply steam from the accumulator to the steam consumer.

There is a second valve 26 in conduit 20 which is responsive to the pressure behind the same transmitted through the tube 27. This valve is normally open, and closes only if the pressure of steam supplied to steam consumer 19 rises above a predetermined high value. In such case, the steam pressure rises in flash chamber 14. This would be a temporarily abnormal condition.

It wih be seen that this arrangement operates to supply constant temperature of water to the warm water consumers. Also the supply of steam is controlled so that the steam supplied to the steam consumer is maintained at constant pressure. Steam is withdrawn from the accumulator direct to the steam consumer only if there is not enough steam generated in the flash chamber 14. It will be understood that the pressure in flash .chamber 14 is lower than the pressure in the accumulator so that when the water passes through .valve 15, some of it will -evaporate.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is similar in general. However, in this case, the hot water is not-conducted directly to an accumulator, but is conducted to a first flash chamber 29. The supply of water to this flash chamber is controlled by a valve 30 operated by a float 31 in chamber 29.- Float 31 operates to maintain a constant level of liquid in flash chamber 29. The conduit 13 leads out of flash chamber 29 and to the flash chamber 14 asdescribed in connection with Fig. 1. A steam conduit 32 is connected to the upper part of flash chamber 29 and conducts steam to the accumulator 12. This accumulator is connected in parallel to the conduit 32-21 in known manner. Reference character 33 designates an auxiliary steam supply pipe for the accumulator, which may be controlled by a hand valve 34. The temperature in the flash chamber 14, instead of being controlled by an overflow valve in conduit 20, is controlled by a valve 35 in conduit 32. This valve is actuated by variations of pressure in conduit 20 and operates to maintain the pressure in conduit 20 substantially constant. Should the pressure rise in conduit 20, valve 35 opens, thereby admitting more steam through conduit 32 to the accumulator. This lowers the pressure in chamber 29 and consequently the temperature, and therefore the water passing through conduit 13 is of lower temperature. This lowers the temperature in flash chamber 14, It will thus be seen that valve 35 is actuated by variations of pressure in conduit 20 and flash chamber 14in such manner as to maintain a constant temperature of water in flash chamber 14 and a constant temperature of water supplied -to the hot water consumers 18.

Again in this'installation steam is primarily taken from flash chamber 14 to the steam consumers 19. If the pressure falls too low due to insufflcient generation 01' steam in flash chamber 14, valve 24 opens to admit steam from accumulator 12 to the steam consumers 19. Valve 26 is likewise a limiting valve and is normally open. This valve closes if the pressure of steam at the supply to the steam consumers rises above a predetermined value.

It will be understood that the valves may be of various kinds and equipped with the usual adjustment devices to set the valves to the proper pressures.

It will be understood that variations in structure and arrangement may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination. a steam consumer, a warm water consumer, a flash chamber, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said accumulator to said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to.

said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer, and means for closing the last-mentioned conduit when the pressure of steam. supplied to the steam consumer is above a given value.

2. In combination, a steam consumer, a warm Water consumer, a flash chamber, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said accumulator to said flash chamber, means for maintaining a constant level of liquid in said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer, and means for closing the lastmentioned conduit when the pressure of steam supplied to the steam consumer is above a given value.

3. In combination, a steam consumer, a warm water consumer, a flash chamber, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said accumulator to said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, an overflow valve in the last-mentioned conduit, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer, and means for closing the last-mentioned conduit when the pressure of steam supplied to the steam consumer is above a given value.

4. In combination, a steam consumer, a warm water consumer, a flash chamber, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said accumulator to said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer and a valve in the last-mentioned conduit operating to open on decrease of pressure behind the same below a given value. I

5. In combination, a steam consumer, a warm water consumer, a flash chamber, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said accumulator to said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, a valve in the last-mentioned conduit operating to close on rise of pressure behind the same above a given value, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer and a valve in the last-mentioned conduitoperating to open on decrease of pressure behind the same below a given value.

6. In combination, a steam consumer, a warm ,water consumer, a flash chamber, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said accumulator to said flash chamber, means to control flow through said conduit in response to liquid level in said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, a valve in the last-mentioned conduit operating to close on rise of pressure behind the same above a given value, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer and a valve in the last-mentioned conduit operating to open on decrease of pressure behindthe same below a given value.

7. In combination, a steam consumer, a warm water consumer, a flash chamber, means to supply hot water to said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer, and means for closing the last-mentioned conduit when the pressure of steam supplied to the steam consumer is above a given value.

8. In combination, a steam consumer, a warm water consumer, a flash chamber, means tosupply hot water to said flash chamber, means for maintaining a constant level of liquid in said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer, and means for closing the last-mentioned conduit when the pressure of steam supplied to the steam consumer is above a given value.

9. In combination, a steam consumer, a warm water consumer, a flash chamber, means to supply hot water to said flash chamber, a conduit for conducting water from said flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said flash chamber to said steam consumer, an overflow valve in the lastmentioned conduit, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting steam from said accumulator to said steam consumer, and means for closing the last-mentioned conduit when the pressure of steam supplied to the steam consumer is above a given value.

10. In combination, a source of hot water, a first flash chamber, a second flash chamber, means to conduct water from said source to said first flash chamber, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said first flash chamber to said second flash chamber, a conduit for conducting steam from said first fiash' chamber to said accumulator, a warm water consumer, a steam consumer, a conduit for conducting water from said second flash chamber to said warm water consumer, and conduits for conducting steam from said second flash chamber and said accumulator to said steam consumer.

11. In combination, a source of hot water, a first flash chamber, a second flash chamber, means to conduct water from said source to said first flash chamber, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said first flash chamber to said second flash chamber, a conduit for conducting steam from said first flash chamber to said accumulator, a warm water consumer, a

.steam consumer, a conduit for conducting water from said second flash chamber to said warm water consumer, conduits for conducting steam from said second flash chamber and said accumulatorto said steam consumer, and means for closing the conduit between the second flash chamber and the 'steam consumer when the pressure of steamsuppiied to the steam consumer is above a given value.

12. In combination, a source of hot water, a

first flash chamber, a second flash chamber,

means to conduct water from said source to said first flash chamber, means for maintaining a constant level of liquid in said flash chambers, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said first flash chamber to said second flash chamber, a conduit for conducting steam from said first flash chamber to said accumulator, a warm water consumer, a steam consumer, a conduit for conducting water from said second flash chamber to said warm water consumer, and conduits for conducting steam from said second flash chamber and said accumulator to said steam consumer.

13. In combination, a source of hot water, a first flash chamber, asecond flash chamber, means to conduct water from said source to said first flash chamber, means for maintaining a constant level of liquid in both of said flash chambers, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said first flash chamber to said second flash chamber, a conduit for conducting steam from said first flash chamber to said accumulator, a warm water consumer, a steam consumer; a conduit for conducting water from said second flash chamber to said warm water consumer, and conduits for conducting steam from said second flash chamber and said accumulator to said steam consumer.

1 1. In combination, a source of hot water, a first flash chamber, a second flash chamber, means to conduct water from said source to said first flash chamber, means for maintaining constant liquid levels in said flash chambers, an accumulator, a conduit for conducting water from said first flash chamber to said second flash chamber,

a conduit for conducting steam from said first flash chamber to said accumulator, a warm water consumer, a steam consumer, a conduit for conducting water from said second flash chamber to said warm water consumer, a conduit for conducting steam from said second flash chamber to said steam consumer, means for closing the last-mentioned conduit when the pressure of steam supplied to the steam consumer is above a given value, and means for conducting steam from the steam accumulator to the steam consumer.

LUDWIG MUSIL. 

